Statement by the Co-Chairmen of the Cross-Party Group following the Conservative Party Spring Conference

1 March 2010

Frank Field MP and Nicholas Soames MP said:

“The British people need more than words on immigration, they need commitment. So far, all our political leaders have chosen to avoid specific commitments. For example, David Cameron said in Brighton that immigration has been “too high” and “needs to be cut”. What he didn’t say was by how much. Nor was there any mention of immigration by Gordon Brown at the Labour party’s Welsh Conference last weekend.

Before the General Election, the British people need a clear commitment from all major parties, to a level of net migration which will prevent our population from reaching 70 million in 20 years as currently projected. To achieve this, balanced migration is an inescapable requirement. The electors need a clear answer to the question of how the next government will bring our unprecedented population growth under control.”

2. The Rt Hon Frank Field MP and The Hon Nicholas Soames MP are Co-Chairmen of the Cross Party Group on Balanced Migration. The Group’s Vice-Chairmen are Lord (Bill) Jordan CBE (former President of the Amalgamated Engineering and Electrical Union) and Daniel Kawczynski MP (Conservative, Shrewsbury & Atcham).